Thursday, April 30, 2015

April 30, 2015: Isaiah 6:1-8

We encourage you to read this devotion three times a day.  Start in the morning and reflect upon the morning reflection question. Then in the afternoon, read it again and reflect using the noon question for reflection.  For the evening, take time to ponder how this has resonated with you in the day and reflecting using the evening question.  We offer a prayer with each devotion for you to pray or we invite you to pray what is in your heart.

Isaiah 6:1-8
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!”

Reflection:
In this story Isaiah has a direct encounter with the Holy God. It’s a mysterious scene of a throne room filled with incense. God’s glory was hanging thick in the air and winged creatures encircled the throne calling out the praise of God. When Isaiah witnesses first-hand the glory of God he is drawn to humility and repentance. “Woe is me! for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips.” After the angel purifies his mouth with hot coal Isaiah boldly responds to God’s call – Here I am, Lord. Send me.

When we have a true encounter with the Holy God we can’t help to experience the depth of our brokenness as human beings. When God is revealed our perspective changes and we realize that we’re not as big of a deal as we thought we were. The beauty is that God forgives our sin in Christ and partners with us in the world. We can’t help but respond with – Here I am, Lord. Send me!

Reflection Questions:
Morning: What does it mean that the whole earth is full of God’s glory?
Noon: When you think of God, what images come to mind? Do you think of God’s mystery and otherness? Do you consider how much God is not like us?
Evening: What does it mean to you that the mighty, mysterious God who created the cosmos cleanses and calls you into his service.

Prayer:
Holy! Holy! Holy! You are God and I am not. I rest in that assurance today. Show yourself to me and I will go wherever you send me. How can I resist your beauty, majesty, wonder, and grace? Amen.

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